Wales have been dealt a triple blow in their search to find a successor to Gareth Jenkins after three frontline candidates committed themselves elsewhere.

Jenkins was sacked as coach on Sunday after seeing his team crash out of the World Cup at the group stage following a 38-34 loss to unfancied Fiji.

Defeat in Nantes condemned Wales to their worst World Cup showing in the professional era and left Jenkins with a record of six wins and a draw from 20 Tests in charge.

WRU chief executive Roger Lewis has admitted the hunt to find a replacement has already begun in earnest, but three early frontrunners - Eddie Jones, Nick Mallett and Mike Ruddock - have ruled themselves out.

Former Australia chief Jones is in France with the South Africa squad as a technical advisor to coach Jake White.

After unexpectedly leading the Wallabies to the World Cup final four years ago he has all the top-level credentials coveted by the WRU.

But he told The Guardian: "I am committed to joining Saracens after the World Cup.

"I have always said that I want to return to international coaching one day, but it has to be the right job at the right time.

"I have not given the Wales position any thought. I am concentrating on the World Cup and will then turn my attention to the Premiership."

South African Mallett's CV is similarly impressive after he set a new record for consecutive wins, 17, in his time at the helm of the Springboks, while he also guided Stade Francais to consecutive French titles.

But he has been lined up by Italy to replace outgoing coach Pierre Berbizier and admits he is now committed to the Azzurri.

"I have gone quite far down the road in my negotiations with Italy," Mallett told the Western Mail.

"There will probably be an announcement on that front after the World Cup. There are just one or two things to be sorted out, but that is my preferred choice."

Asked if his head could be turned by the Welsh job, he added: "I don't think so.

"It wouldn't be fair on the Italian federation. Having basically agreed on 90% of the issues, it would be wrong for me to turn round and renege on that. I am too far down the road."

Ruddock was more of an outside bet for the job following his acrimonious departure from the role early last year.

But the Worcester director of rugby would have been a popular choice after guiding Wales to their first Grand Slam for 27 years in 2005.

However he added: "I appreciate all the support in Wales and I still get lots of letters of support from Welsh people, but I'm staying in Worcester for the foreseeable future.

"It is nice to be linked again with coaching at international level but I am enjoying the challenge at Worcester and I am under contract there for the next three years."

The withdrawal of the highly-decorated trio from the running has increased speculation that Canterbury Crusaders coach Robbie Deans might be the man the WRU will turn to as they look to turn around Wales's flagging fortunes.

Sporting Life / Eurosport